5 Ways to Keep From Cussing Out Bad Drivers

Road rage. We’ve all been there. It’s so easy to lose your cool when you’re cruising down the street and some jerk swerves into your lane. Few things in this world are more satisfying than letting loose with a string of obscenities that would make a sailor blush, but it may not always be appropriate and is certainly going to raise your blood pressure beyond where it should be at 8 AM on a Wednesday.

Next time you feel the need to scream at that $200,000 vette that just cut you off, try these five tips.

Breathe

Don’t hold your breath until your only options are to explode or pass out. Take a few deep breaths. You’ll be amazed at how much a little extra oxygen will improve your mood.

Relax

Being told to relax is easily one of the worst things to hear when you are upset, but it’s true. You need to relax. All of that anger you’re holding in is going to manifest itself in your muscles and can cause serious pain if you don’t recognize and intervene. Let your shoulders fall and unclench your jaw. You’ll be grateful when you’re not starting or ending your day with a raging headache.

Count to Ten

I know this is cliché, but you don’t literally have to count to ten. The whole purpose of this is to give yourself time to have a thoughtful response to a situation instead of an instinctual reaction that includes several variations of the ‘f-word.’

Plan Ahead

If you know that your drive is going to be stressful, you should take the time to do a little meditation beforehand. Just a few minutes of quiet can do wonders. Choose a few affirmations that will help you get in the right frame of mind for your trip.

If All Else Fails…

Pretend your grandmother is riding in the car with you. It doesn’t have to be your grandma, but imagine you are driving with someone who you would not want to see you at your worst. It could be your boss, your boyfriend or girlfriend or your imaginary friend from childhood, as long as it gives you the motivation to keep your mouth in check.

We all know that excess stress is wildly unhealthy, and with all of the other things we have to worry about in day-to-day life, why add road rage to mix? Next time you feel like exploding, remember these five tips.

It’s become my mission to show the world that not only is kindness fun and easy to do, but also that small actions can have giant impacts. That’s why I started Kinda Kind. I’m glad that your path has led you here and I’m glad we’re on the journey together to make kindness badass.